This Crock Pot Baked Ziti is the ultimate cheesy comfort food. This crazy simple family dinner comes together with just 10 minutes of prep work - no need to pre-boil the noodles - and then cooks in your slow cooker. This cozy combination of penne pasta, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and marina sauce makes the perfect vegetarian family dinner.
Love crock pot pasta? Also, try my Crock Pot No Boil Mac & Cheese.
Crock Pot Baked Ziti
Crock Pot Baked Ziti is the ultimate weeknight family dinner. This crowd-pleasing recipe comes together with just 10 minutes of prep work and is the perfect combination of cheesy pasta and marinara sauce. The rich layers of marinara sauce, tender penne pasta, Italian spiced ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, AND parmesan cheese will have everyone asking for seconds. It's a cheesy, melty perfect dinner for kids and adults.
This recipe is so simple you don't even need to pre-cook the pasta noodles in boiling water before assembling the casserole in your slow cooker. You put them in uncooked and they come out tender and delicious. This is the ultimate stress-free, hands-off dinner that you can easily serve for everything from a family dinner, bring to a potluck (it serves a crowd!), or even your next dinner party.
Crockpot Baked Ziti is one of those recipes you need to add to your family meal rotation. This dish is vegetarian, but it's so hearty that you'll never miss the meat.
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Why You'll Love this Crock Pot Baked Ziti Recipe...
- Crock Pot Baked Ziti is the ultimate dump-and-forget slow cooker meal.
- It's made with only 6 main ingredients that are budget-friendly and easy to find! You might even already have them in your pantry and fridge.
- There are layers of gooey, delicious cheese. It tastes amazing!
- It makes a hearty portion making it great for either a family dinner with leftovers or even great for a party!
- The leftovers heat up great!
- Did I mention how amazing it tastes?
Ingredients:
Here's an overview of what you'll need to make this Crock Pot Baked Ziti, but keep scrolling for the full recipe amounts.
- Ricotta Cheese: Ricotta cheese is a key ingredient to give the Baked Zita that classic baked pasta flavor. Ricotta is a light, fluffy cheese often used in Italian dishes. You can find it in the refrigerated section of the grocery store near the yogurt and cottage cheese. You can substitute cottage cheese for the ricotta in this recipe.
- Eggs: You use two eggs to give the pasta the baked consistency.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: Grated parmesan cheese is a must for any baked pasta.
- Italian Seasoning: I make my own Italian Seasoning blend with oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, and sage. You can also use your favorite store brand.
- Marinara Sauce: Use a good store-bought pasta sauce or marinara sauce because that's where most of the flavor of this dish comes from. Whichever type your family prefers will work. If you are feeling extra ambitious you can make your own with my Crock Pot Marinara Sauce.
- Penne Pasta or Ziti Pasta: I like using regular Penne Pasta for this Crock Pot Baked Ziti so it cooks evenly. Although penne or ziti is traditionally used for baked ziti, you can use other short pasta like macaroni or rotini, if you don't have penne.
- Italian Cheese Blend: You can use the Italian Cheese Blend in the store which often is a blend of mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, asiago, and romano. You can also use just regular shredded mozzarella cheese if you prefer. Either will work great! I love the added depth of flavor of the pre-mixed Italian cheese.
- Salt & Pepper
- Garnish: Fresh basil or parsley
Instructions:
This is an overview of the instructions to make this Crock Pot Baked Ziti, but the full detailed printable recipe is below in the recipe card.
Step One: Mix the Ricotta Cheese
- Step one is to mix the ricotta cheese. In a medium bowl, mix the ricotta cheese.
- Add the eggs, ¼ cup of the parmesan cheese, Italian Seasoning, and salt and pepper. Stir until smooth.
- Set the mixture aside to assemble the Crock Pot Baked Ziti.
Step Two: Assemble the Crock Pot Baked Ziti
- Step two is to assemble the Crock Pot Baked Ziti. No need to pre-boil the pasta!
- First, spray a large crock pot with cooking spray. I like to use this large programable 7-quart Crock Pot for my recipes.
- Pour a thin layer of marinara sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker. You are going to layer the baked ziti like lasagna so it cooks evenly and has cheese evenly distributed. See the photos below.
- In another layer, add ⅓ of the pasta.
- Next, add ⅓ of the ricotta cheese mixture. Smooth it with a spatula in an even layer, as shown below.
- Finish with ⅓ of the mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat the layers 2 more times for a total of 3 layers. On the top layer, sprinkle some extra Italian Seasoning and the rest of the parmesan cheese.
- Cook on high for 2-2/12 hours until the pasta is tender. Slow cooker times can widely vary, so keep an eye on it.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
Variations
I love this Crock Pot Baked Ziti as written, but here are some fun variations.
- Make it Gluten-Free: Substitute gluten-free pasta for regular pasta.
- Make it Meaty: Add a layer of cooked ground beef, chicken, ground turkey, or Italian sausage to the casserole. You will need to take the extra step to pre-cook any meat in a large skillet you add to the casserole.
- Add Veggies: You can bump up the nutrition in this dinner by layering in some veggies like shredded carrots, tomatoes, onion, zucchini, kale, spinach, mushrooms, or even bell peppers.
- Make it Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
FAQ
Storage & Leftovers
This Crock Pot Baked Ziti is great for leftovers. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.
Freezing
You can freeze this dish after cooking. Put it in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to three months. When you are ready to reheat it you can thaw it out and reheat it in the microwave for the oven.
Can you put raw pasta in the slow cooker?
Yes! You can and it's a great way to save time for a busy night. You can do it with either this recipe or my No Pre-Boil Crock Pot Mac and Cheese.
Can I double this recipe?
Yes, you technically can but it already makes a big batch! You will need a large 10-quart crock pot for it to fit.
How do you keep Baked Ziti warm in the crock pot?
You can keep Baked Ziti warm in the crock pot by using the warm setting on the crock pot. You can keep it this way for up to an hour.
This Crock Pot Baked Ziti is a Game-Changing Family Dinner Idea!
This Crock Pot Baked Ziti is such a fabulous family dinner idea. When you are in a hurry or have a busy day there is nothing like having a cozy meal ready to go. I love serving cheesy pasta dishes with a side salad or roasted veggies to make sure we get in our veggies for the day. Garlic bread is also a hit too. Here are a few ideas to round out your meal.
What to Serve it With:
- Green Salad with Zesty Italian Dressing
- Chopped Italian Salad
- Roasted Lemon Parmesan Broccoli
- Roasted Asparagus
- Roasted Green Beans
- Chopped Kale Salad
More Easy Pasta Dinners to Try:
- Lemon Pesto Pasta
- Smoked Gouda and Mushroom Baked Pasta
- Salmon Alfredo Pasta
- Salmon Pesto Pasta
- Cajun Shrimp Pasta
- Kale Pasta
- Healthy Pesto Pasta
- Creamy Avocado Pasta
If you make this Crock Pot Baked Ziti, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!
Crock Pot Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 32 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
- 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 48 ounces pasta sauce
- 16 ounces penne pasta
- 14 ounces shredded Italian Cheese Blend
Instructions
- Spray a large crock pot with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, eggs, ¼ cup of the parmesan cheese, Italian Seasoning, and salt and pepper.
- Add a thin layer of marinara sauce to the bottom of the crock pot.
- In another layer, add ⅓ of the pasta.
- Next, add ⅓ of the ricotta cheese mixture.
- Finish with ⅓ of the mozzerella cheese.
- Repeat the layers 2 more times for a total of 3 layers. On the top layer, sprinkle some extra Italian Seasoning and the rest of the parmesan cheese.
- Cook on high for 2-2/12 hours until the pasta is tender.
Notes
Nutrition
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Cara says
Loved this crock pot meal! We were getting bored with our standard pasta dishes but this version turned out great. Will make again